Have you heard of the ancient Ayurveda practice Garshana? Garshana practice is one of the most powerful beauty practices that awakens circulation, activates lymphatic system to remove toxins and reveals radiant, soft, and beautiful skin from within.
According to Ayurveda, beautiful glowing skin begins not on the surface but in the flow of life energy or prana. When the prana energy stagnates, the skin appears dull, heavy, and lifeless. To awaken this inner vitality, ancient Ayurvedic texts prescribe a simple yet profound ritual known as Garshana - the art of dry scrubbing the body using a dry brush with natural bristles or raw linen gloves to gently exfoliate, detoxify, and reawaken the body’s natural glow.
Garshana - The Sanskrit Relevance
Garshana comes from Sanskrit, meaning “friction.” Using a dry brush or raw linen gloves, the body is rubbed dry in circular and upward motion to stimulate lymphatic flow, remove toxins (Ama), and enhance circulation. Garshana is a gentle, rhythmic brushing of the skin that supports body’s natural detox pathways.
Ayurvedic Benefits of Garshana
Ayurveda recognizes Garshana as a powerful daily ritual for inducing flow in the body and balancing the kapha energy that beings about heaviness, stagnation, and sluggishness in the body. Regular garshana practice brings a cascade of benefits:
- Boosts circulation and oxygenation, bringing vitality and glow to the skin.
- Stimulates lymphatic flow, helping the body to eliminate toxins naturally.
- Removes dead skin cells, unveiling smooth and soft skin texture.
- Energizes the body, reducing feelings of lethargy and heaviness.
- Balances Kapha dosha, promoting lightness and clarity.
- Prepares the skin to better absorb nourishing oils or moisturizers applied afterward.
Through Garshana, the skin becomes not only luminous but also more receptive to the deeper nourishment that follows, embodying Svarasya’s philosophy of beauty that begins from within.